Steven welcomes Ian back to America after his trip to London. Ian regales us with tales of fish and chips-eating and musicals-watching (3:38), and then Steven lurches into a quick Sportscast about annoying NFL teams from New York City (5:33). (Sorry, New Jersey!) The guys also discuss their plans to see Foxing (Ian) and MJ Lenderman (Steven) this weekend (13:35), and the latest status of Ian's Fantasy Albums Draft (20:10).

In the mailbag, the guys answer questions about the current state of Bandcamp (26:51), the best musical guests on The Simpsons (33:00), the best decade for music (38:48), and the artists the guys can't believe they haven't seen live yet (47:00).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian stumps for veteran singer-songwriter Fred Thomas and Steven recommends the latest from the shape-shifting LA band Peel Dream Magazine (55:06).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 210 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin this week's episode by discussing Ian's upcoming trip to London, which is quickly interrupted by a quick rant by Steven about the (improving!) state of tour T-shirts (4:06). Then the guys commence a conversation about Pitchfork's recent list of the best albums of the 2020s, and what some notable exclusions and slights say about the changing critical narrative for the decade (12:23). After that, they take stock of a big release day for albums and review the latest from Wild Pink (30:59), former Black Midi frontman Geordie Greep (37:12), and the new supergroup The Hard Quartet fronted by Stephen Malkmus (45:41).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the emo band Ceres and Steven reps for the fine indie-heartland rock group Trace Mountains (51:04).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 209 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin this week's episode with the first ever "Furnace-cast" about the current state of Steven's heating and cooling units at his house. Both were being installed during this episode, which might have resulted in some post-punk-style background noise. What's more indie rock than that? After a quick Sportscast about the latest from Steven's Green Bay Packers and Ian's Philadelphia Eagles, they hold their Fantasy Albums Draft for Q4 (15:22). Will Steven finally win one of these? Probably not! But who knows?

Then the guys delve into the mailbag to answer some quality emails. Topics include the sad state of music festivals in 2024 (31:55), the relative quality of music put out in 2014 (41:05), and whether it's possible to have a good song with good music and bad lyrics (yes!) or bad music and good lyrics (maybe?) (50:17).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian stumps for a divorce record by Adeline Hotel and Steven goes for the latest from bluegrass phenom Billy Strings (56:40).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 208 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin today's episode by reacting to the recent Sean "Diddy" Combs news (1:22), and speculate on whether Get Him To The Greek is the most cancelable movie of all time. From there, they talk about the Father John Misty album announcement, and muse about the Pure Comedy album cycle (8:22). Steven then brings up Ian's great recent profile of Japandroids, which digs deep into the personal backstory of the band ahead of their farewell album (19:07).

They also talk about Bright Eyes upon the release of their album, Five Dice, All Threes, and some troubling viral concert moments (30:10). Speaking of viral concert moments, the guys also dig into the recent reunion craziness involving Jane's Addiction and The Smiths (38:30).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the New Zealand emo band Yon Loader and Steven stumps for the latest from Nilüfer Yanya (51:34)

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 207 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian open today's episode with some jokes (and some empathy!) directed at Dave Grohl. The president of rock is down this week, but the guys are not going to kick him. Steven then laments the state of the Green Bay Packers in a quick Sportscast, and the guys marvel at the unintentional comedy of Donald Trump in Politicscast. Steven gets really depressed during the Fantasy Albums Draft update, but then things perk up when they address the recent controversy about Linkin Park's new singer and the overall "yay or nay" status of the popular nu-metal band. The guys also review new albums by "indie sleaze" artists The Dare and Fcukers, which brings out the "Danny Glover in Lethal Weapon" side of Steven.

In the mailbag, a listener asks if there is an American band whose reunion would engender as much hysteria as the Oasis reunion in England. (The answer is: Nirvana, maybe, if Kurt Cobain faked his own death.)

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the new album by Foxing while Steven stumps for the latest live record by The War On Drugs.

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 206 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven begins today's episode by apologizing to Ian and the Sum 41 fan community for his recent disrespectful comments on the pod -- new information has come to light that made him rethink his snarkiness (0:58). Then there is a short Sportscast about the new NFL season (4:25), and more despair from Steven about the state of his fantasy albums draft team (12:08).

The guys then pivot to the new MJ Lenderman album out today, Manning Fireworks. It's Steven's favorite record of the year, and Ian likes it, too, though not as much (15:06). Steven also recounts seeing King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard live for the first time this week, which made clear just how huge that band is (28:02).

In the mailbag, they address emails about the worst contracts in music history (38:29) and whether they "yay or nay" the band Girls (47:42).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the emo band Floral Tattoo while Steven stumps for a new book by The Hold Steady's Franz Nicolay (56:23).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 205 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin this week's episode by talking about a big potential reunion in the rock world. Of course we're referring to... TV On The Radio! The band appears to be teasing something right now, which the guys assume is probably their first concert dates in five years (1:38). After that, they of course talk about the return of Oasis. Steven is very pumped, but will he actually pay through the nose to see them in Europe (7:06)? Maybe he will to take his mind off the disastrous state of his Fantasy Album Draft team. It looks like Ian is on the way to yet another easy victory this quarter (22:07). The guys then transition to a conversation about Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds, who release a new album, Wild God, today. Steven is yay on Cave, but what about Ian (29:57)?

In the mailbag, a listener asks about the phenomenon of "rawdogging" on airplanes and whether the guys ever listen to music without doing anything else (40:00). Then they answer an email about whether they like prog rock, and Steven gives a very detailed answer (47:17).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the UK act Seefeel and Steven goes for veteran singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne (56:22).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 204 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian open this week's episode by talking about pontoon boats -- Steven was on one this week, and he listened to Steve Winwood's "Back In The High Life Again" on a loop. Ian shares his own pontoon story about someone named Uncle Zippy (2:05). After a brief look at the Fantasy Albums Draft (5:05) -- Steven has records from Sabrina Carpenter, The Spirit Of The Beehive, and Illuminati Hotties out this week -- they talk about a recent article charting the pop culture events of the Obamacore era. Steven asks Ian for his take on artists like Tune-Yards, Chance The Rapper, and Run The Jewels -- are they Obamacore? What is Obamacore, anyway (14:47)?

After that, they talk about Romance, the new album from Irish rock band Fontaines DC. Is this the record that finally gets the guys on board with a band they are otherwise indifferent about? (It is for one of them!) (36:10). In the mailbag, a listener corrects some misinformation about a recent Ween concert (46:35). Steven and Ian also answer an email about driving long distances to concerts when you live in a small town. (They also discover the Canadian hardcore band Dayglo Abortions, for better or worse.) (48:39)

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the latest from Magdalena Bay while Steven stumps for BBsitters Club (56:38).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 203 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian begin today's episode with a review of Phoenix's performance at the Olympics last weekend, and the maddening idea that every band from the aughts is now being lumped into the made-up phenomenon known as "indie sleaze" (1:09). From there, they move on to the news that the proggy British post-punk band Black Midi has apparently broken up. The guys discuss their brief career and the surprisingly wide influence they have had on other acts (13:38).

Then they talk about Wishy, the Indiana-based shoegaze outfit that has emerged as one of 2024's most hyped young bands. Their debut full-length, Triple Seven, is out today, and Steven loves it while Ian is more reserved in his judgement (24:49). After that, they move on to discussion about Ween, who Steven wrote about this week. He wonders whether Ian has a "yay or nay" assessment of the cult duo (39:15). In the mailbag, a listener asks about the strangest place the guys have either seen a show, and Steven talks about seeing the '90s rap group Onyx and Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham at two different high schools (47:01).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks up the playful pop of Porter Robinson while Steven stumps for the Georgia rock band Futurebirds (53:26).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 202 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Steven and Ian open this week's episode with a quick Politics-cast about Tim Walz, the VP candidate whose life resembles a middle-aged man's version of a Hold Steady song (2:05). From there, they discuss a range of not-quite-indie topics — the retirement of Aerosmith from the road (15:30), the explosion of Chappell Roan (24:33), and whether John Mayer's "Daughters" is the worst song ever written (as suggested by St. Vincent) (34:37).

In the mailbag, a reader asks for advice on which upcoming show he should see, and the guys instead end up talking about the ethics of selling a birthday present bought by your wife (48:25).

In Recommendation Corner, Ian talks about the latest from Parannoul and Steven reps the new album by Oso Oso (54:53).

New episodes of Indiecast drop every Friday. Listen to Episode 201 here and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. You can submit questions for Steve and Ian at [email protected], and make sure to follow us on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) for all the latest news. We also recently launched a visualizer for our favorite Indiecast moments. Check those out here.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.